Data breaches are becoming more and more common, so it is essential that you learn about the different ways you can protect your valuable information. Zero-knowledge encryption is one such method that provides better privacy and data security.
But what exactly is zero-knowledge encryption? How is it different from end-to-end encryption? And what are its pros and cons?
What is encryption?
Encryption is an important tool for protecting information from prying eyes. At its most basic level, encryption is the process of encoding messages or information so that only the intended users can read it.
Encryption uses complex mathematical algorithms to convert plain text (data readable by humans) into cipher text that cannot be read by either a machine or a human. A user with only a decryption key can convert the ciphertext back to plaintext, ie readable data. So hackers would only see gibberish if they got hold of the ciphertext.
There are mainly two types of encryption used when it comes to securing data.
Encryption-in-transit
Just as an armored truck protects its contents, encryption in transit protects your data while it is in transit. For example, when you download or upload files to a cloud storage provider, the data is encrypted during transmission for security.
TLS is the most commonly used encryption protocol for encryption-in-transit.
Encryption-at-rest
This type of encryption protects stored data—when it is not in use; For example, data saved on the servers of a cloud storage provider. AES-256 is the industry standard encryption protocol for encryption-at-rest.
Most cloud storage providers include both types of encryption methods to provide proper security. However, with encryption-in-transit, the server can access all decrypted information, and any successful server attack has the potential to reveal your sensitive information. And the server has a decryption key in encryption-at-rest, which means a data breach incident could happen because of employee misbehavior or a server attack.
Zero-knowledge encryption can fill the security gap left by these two encryption types.
What is zero-knowledge encryption?
With zero-knowledge encryption, your data is always secure because only you have the decryption key. The service provider knows nothing about your encryption key and the data it is processing.
In the event of a server attack on your service provider, hackers will get nothing but gibberish because you have the encryption key. The purpose of zero-knowledge encryption is simple—only you can access the encrypted data.
Now, you’re probably wondering, don’t all cloud storage providers ensure that your data is inaccessible to unauthorized users? yes they do.
However, many cloud storage providers keep copies of users’ encryption keys and track the data users process to provide a better user experience. For example, Dropbox keeps a copy of your encryption key in order to provide faster service. So you may be asking yourself, is Dropbox secure enough for your personal files?
If you want better privacy and security for your data, zero-knowledge encryption is the way to go, as the service provider will never know your encryption key.
Are zero-knowledge encryption and end-to-end encryption the same?
No, zero-knowledge encryption and end-to-end encryption are not the same.
In end-to-end encryption (E2EE), data or information is encrypted at one end and transmitted in the form of ciphertext to the other end, where it is decrypted. As a result, hackers or any third party cannot read the data or information transmitted from one end to the other or while at rest on the server.
End-to-end encryption is a great way to protect data and efficiently addresses vulnerabilities in encryption-in-transit and encryption-at-rest. But you can employ it only for communication channels where the other end is.
On the other hand, zero-knowledge encryption is all about encrypting the data locally and keeping the encryption key hidden from the service provider.
You can use zero-knowledge encryption in any service that locks data behind a password. Many cloud storage services and password managers use zero-knowledge encryption to provide better security to users.
Furthermore, with third-party apps like Cryptomator, you can apply zero-knowledge encryption to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or any other cloud storage provider that doesn’t come with a zero-knowledge encryption feature.
What are the benefits of zero-knowledge encryption?
More and more service providers and app developers are adopting zero-knowledge encryption because of its ability to provide strong privacy and data security.